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Strategic Initiative Grant Program SIG

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Overview

The Strategic Initiatives Grant Program (SIG) is designed to promote the funding of new innovative programs that are timely in nature and meet the fast paced changes on our university campus. Additionally, these funds promote collaborations within Student Affairs units as well as with academic units across campus.

Priority will be given to initiatives that meet the strategic goals of the Division of Student Affairs. Check back for a list of new goals once they are announced. Applications for the 2018-19 academic year are due June 22, 2018 by 4 pm.

Eligibility, Criteria & Restrictions

Eligibility

Any Student Affairs unit on the Urbana-Champaign campus may apply for these funds. The unit must have at least one other active co-sponsor within Students Affairs. Additional co-sponsors may be from any other unit affiliated with the university. A total of $15,000 will be available for the 2018-19 academic year. Multi-year applications will be considered provided applicants can stipulate how the program will be institutionalized.

Sponsorship Criteria

Innovative new programs that target any campus sub-population are encouraged. However, those programs that ultimately improve students' Illinois experience are encouraged.

The proposed event/program must meet one of the strategic goals of the Division of Student Affairs listed below. Proposals are encouraged to incorporate technology use; accessible materials; innovations that have the potential to become best practices; and the creation of programs that have the potential to become permanent. In addition, funds from the Verdell-Frazier-Young grant will be disbursed through the SIG program application. The Verdell-Frazier-Young grant will make available an additional $5,000 specifically for the improvement of the education of undergraduate women and/or the generation of new knowledge about the education of undergraduate women.

Applicants will be required to document the extent of the involvement of co-sponsors. Unit heads or their designees will be contacted to verify that the proposal if funded will be carried out. A summary and assessment report will be required within thirty days of the event prior to the award funds being released. An assessment template will be provided for this purpose. Proposed events must not have occurred on campus within the past two years. Applicants must adhere to all university policies and procedures.

Restrictions

All events must meet university policies which supersede SIG guidelines.

Strictly social events will not be supported.

Funds cannot be used for wages or salaries of any type.

Funds cannot be used for capital projects.

Funds cannot be used for purchase of permanent office equipment.

Political endorsements not allowed.

Expenses for fundraisers and alcoholic beverages are not allowed.

Gifts for participants are not allowed; however, limited items that will be given to participants will be considered in the supplies budget category provided they are integral to the project.

Travel will only be supported if it is integral to the project.

Multi-year applications will be considered provided applicants can stipulate how the program will be institutionalized. An award for the first year does not guarantee that subsequent years will be supported. An application must be submitted each year that support is required.

Student Affairs Strategic Goals

Foster collaboration, discovery, and innovation

Establish intentional collaborations internally and externally that are supported by incentives and recognition

Support and foster co-curricular experiences with innovative academic partnerships

Final Report Template

Questions?

Questions can be directed to Belinda De La Rosa, Director of Assessment for the Office of the Dean of Students at blarosa@illinois.edu or by phone at (217) 333-0050.

Past Awards

2018-2019 Awards

Strategic Initiative Grants

BREAK Program

Submitted by: Yun Shi, OIIR

Co-sponsors: Asian American Cultural Center and Campus Recreation

This program will unite current international students whom cannot travel during the school breaks. The program will provide educational and social events, field trips and physical activities. International students will interact with each other, learn from different cultures, and support each other by addressing homesickness and loneliness they may be experiencing.

Exercise is Medicine (renewal)

Exercise is Medicine® on Campus (EIM-OC) is a global health initiative managed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) calling upon universities and colleges to engage in the promotion of physical activity as a vital sign of health. EIM-OC encourages faculty, staff and students to work together toward improving the health and well-being of the campus community by:

Making movement a part of the daily campus culture

Assessing physical activity at every student health visit

Providing students the tools necessary to strengthen healthy physical activity habits that can last a lifetime

Connecting university health care providers with university health fitness specialists to provide a referral system for exercise prescription

This grant will support programming initiated last year such as Illinois Marathon Runners Symposium, Veterans Memorial 5K, Bike to Work Day, Bike Rodeo, and Petal Car Outreach.

International Student Success Lounge

Submitted by: Yun Shi, OIIR

Co-sponsors: Asian American Cultural Center, The Career Center, International Student & Scholar Services, Office of Student Success & Engagement, and a variety of Registered Student Organizations

This weekly "lounge" will provide a venue for ongoing support of international students throughout the school year. International students will have an opportunity to learn about campus resources while engaging with domestic students and staff. A variety of programs will be provided such as visits from Student Affairs units, academic advisors, student organizations, videos, games, books, and informal Q & A. The lounge will be staffed by 1-2 volunteer graduate students and five professionals on a rotating basis. Additionally, the lounge will provide an opportunity to conduct formative evaluation about the lounge activities and a needs assessment of international students.

RSO Workshop Series

Regularly scheduled workshops throughout the academic year will be provided by the collaborators on policies, leadership development, hazing, communication, and how student involvement is applicable to students’ career plans. This is the first unified effort to provide coordinated education to student organizations about issues that they may face. An incentive will be offered to attract RSO participation.

Suicide Prevention & Intervention Program (renewal)

Submitted by: Felicia Li, Counseling Center

Co-sponsors: Veterinary Medicine, College of Letters, Arts, & Sciences, and College of Engineering

The Suicide Prevention and Intervention Team in the Counseling Center will increase help-seeking early detection and referral of at-risk students by achieving these four primary goals:

Increase access to mental health services on campus

Decrease stigma of mental illness on campus

Establish and strengthen educational platforms around mental health and illness

Foster peer-to-peer interventions to promote suicide prevention

Strategies utilized include tabling and promotional items give-away during Suicide Prevention Week to promote participation in Kognito At-Risk training among students. Increase the visibility and awareness of the Counseling Center’s services by embedding counselors in the colleges of Engineering and Letters, Arts, & Sciences. Other strategies will be film screening/discussion events, workshop presentations, "13 Reasons Why" Student Panel, gatekeeper training, social media presence, and Out of the Darkness walk.

Verdell-Frazier Awards

Expressive Arts for Survivors of Sexual Misconduct (renewal)

Submitted by: Theresa Benson, Counseling Center

Co-sponsors: Women’s Resources Center

The Counseling Center and Women’s Resources Center created an ongoing expressive arts support group for survivors of sexual misconduct. Content experts in the area of expressive arts will provide a workshop and lecture on journal-making as part of Art and Health month to help generate interest in the support group as well as raise student awareness of the health benefits of the creative process. Other art weekly workshops facilitated by staff from the Counseling Center, Women’s Resources Center, Kathleen Horne, and Tamara Teeter-Knapp provide opportunities for students to express, bond, and learn coping strategies to overcome their experience(s).

2017-2018 Awards

Strategic Initiative Grants

Beyond GLOBE (renewal)

This program will unite current GLOBE members with Global Crossroads Living-Learning Community in an effort to increase domestic/international student engagement in a meaningful manner. Global Leaders: Orange and Blue Engagement program is a mutually beneficial program with the approach of students learning and helping students to learn about others from different backgrounds. It will be a structured program with 4-6 students in each cohort with the support of professional staff that will participate in various activities and events. This program will provide the opportunity for domestic and international students to network, develop leadership skills, global awareness, and cultural competency.

iEngage: Service Trips (renewal)

International and domestic students will be recruited to participate in civic engagement activities and collaborative learning. Students will have an opportunity to interact and grow culturally from each other, have a transformative learning experience, and develop a strong sense of civic responsibility. Students will learn how to organize their own service projects. There will be one three day trip and four day trips.

Exercise is Medicine On-Campus

Exercise is Medicine® on Campus (EIM-OC) is a global health initiative managed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) calling upon universities and colleges to engage in the promotion of physical activity as a vital sign of health. EIM-OC encourages faculty, staff and students to work together toward improving the health and well-being of the campus community by:

Making movement a part of the daily campus culture

Assessing physical activity at every student health visit

Providing students the tools necessary to strengthen healthy physical activity habits that can last a lifetime

Connecting university health care providers with university health fitness specialists to provide a referral system for exercise prescription

This grant will allow the formation of a committee at the University of Illinois recognized by the ACSM and implement a series of EIM-OC events in the month of October, 2017 (e.g., sponsor a table at the homecoming 5k, promotional tabling at Quad Day, etc.).

Suicide Prevention & Intervention Program

Submitted by: Felicia Li, Counseling Center

Co-sponsors: Veterinary Medicine, College of Letters, Arts, & Sciences, and College of Engineering

The Suicide Prevention and Intervention Team in the Counseling Center will increase help-seeking early detection and referral of at-risk students by achieving these four primary goals:

Increase access to mental health services on campus

Decrease stigma of mental illness on campus

Establish and strengthen educational platforms around mental health and illness

Foster peer-to-peer interventions to promote suicide prevention

Strategies that will be utilized includes tabling and promotional items give-away during Suicide Prevention Week to promote participation in Kognito At-Risk training among students, as well as increase the visibility and awareness of the Counseling Center’s services. Other strategies will be film screening/discussion events, workshop presentations, gatekeeper training, social media presence, and Out of the Darkness walk.

Racial Healing Circles

The Bruce Nesbitt African American Cultural Center (BNACC) in collaboration with the Counseling Center and University Housing will build on BNACC’s Healthy Space Program by incorporating curriculum from the Community Healing Network. Dr. Kevin Cokley, who has written extensively on Black psychology and the experiences of Black college students will be invited to campus to reify the message, aims and goals of the Healthy Space Program. Students will become more aware of some of the emotional and psychosocial impediments that can lead to deleterious effects on their well-being. They will learn how to offset the stigma that is often associated with mental health services, what services are available, and coping skills to overcome feelings of being overwhelmed.

Verdell-Frazier Awards

Expressive Arts for Survivors

Submitted by: Theresa Benson, Counseling Center

Co-sponsors: Women’s Resources Center

The Counseling Center and Women’s Resources Center will create an ongoing expressive arts support group for survivors of sexual misconduct. Content experts in the area of expressive arts will provide a workshop and lecture on journal-making as part of Art and Health month to help generate interest in the support group as well as raise student awareness of the health benefits of the creative process.

2016-2017 Awards

Strategic Initiative Grants

Beyond GLOBE (renewal)

This program will unite current GLOBE members with Global Crossroads Living-Learning Community in an effort to increase domestic/international student engagement in a meaningful manner. Global Leaders: Orange and Blue Engagement program is a mutually beneficial program with the approach of students learning and helping students to learn about others from different backgrounds. It will be a structured program with 4-6 students in each cohort with the support of professional staff that will participate in various activities and events. This program will provide the opportunity for domestic and international students to network, develop leadership skills, global awareness, and cultural competency. Approximately 100-160 students will participate at each event throughout the academic year.

Student-Parent Welcome Reception

Submitted by: Ann Marie Morgan, ODOS

Co-sponsors: Student-Parent Advisory Council

Over 40 student-parents who have self-identified through the Student-Parent Website will be invited to a reception. The reception will recognize and provide support to these students. Staff from the Student Assistance Center will provide information about the resources on campus available to student-parents. These parents will learn about the student organization Students with Families. The reception will provide an opportunity for these students to network and form connections with each other in the hopes that will advocate for new programs and services to meet their needs. By demonstrating inclusivity and welcome to these students they will feel more engaged and develop a stronger affinity with the university.

iEngage: Service Trips (renewal)

International and domestic students will be recruited to participate in civic engagement and collaborative learning. Students will have an opportunity to interact and grow culturally from each other. Students will learn how to organize their own service projects while participating in Interwoven. There will be three weekend trips and three day trips. The program is expected to serve over 100 students.

In the Zone will coordinate several training modules that include LGBT Ally, Racial Justice Allies and Advocates, Disability Ally, Undocumented Allies, I-CARE bystander intervention and other trainings. Monroe France, the coordinator of a similar project will present to student leaders about the importance of intersectional approaches to diversity. Additionally a parallel social marketing series that advertises the “ally zone” trainings and promotes positive ally behaviors will be launched.

Illinois Interfaith Common Action

The Illinois Interfaith Initiative is a multi-unit collaborative effort of staff, faculty, and students who host a number of interfaith-focused programs each year, culminating in an annual Illinois Interfaith Conference, which invites students and higher education professionals from across the Midwest to participate in a dialogue about interfaith cooperation on the college campus. Common Action will provide spaces for service and civic engagement in the community on a month basis. These experiences will include dialogue about community needs, global issues, and connections to faith, spirituality, and meaning-making.

Global Career Network Leadership Forum

Global Career Network is a collaboration of international student organizations with a focus on career development and planning. The forum will be a vehicle to provide the leaders of these student organizations with training to promote effective program planning, team-building, and conflict management. Additionally, the forum will provide tools for collaboration, knowledge about Leadership Center resources, an opportunity to brainstorm collaborations and learn how to leverage their leadership for career development and job hunting.

Verdell-Frazier Awards

Women’s Career Institute

Submitted by: Rachel Storm, Women’s Resources Center

Co-sponsors: The Career Center, Illinois Leadership Center, University of Illinois Extension Financial Wellness Program, YWCA, and AAUW $tart $mart Program

The institute will provide female participants with interactive workshops and presentations important to career planning and development. Participants will gain practical knowledge such as: how to negotiate salaries and promotions, how to market skills to a potential employer, creating a lasting impact in their community, turning passion into a career, networking, pros and cons of graduate school, and financial wellness. In addition, there will be a keynote speaker who will provide her story of real-life challenges in her career path.

Going Beyond Undergrad

Co-sponsors: The Career Center, General Studies, OMSA, and School of Social Work

This program targets first-generation, low income female students who are four semesters away from graduation. The program will provide six workshops outlining the process of looking for graduate programs and how to apply to graduate school. The students will be paired with a female university employee whom share a similar background and who has successfully applied to graduate school. The Career Center provide individual consultation to the participants as well as collaborate on programming. In addition, those students completing the program will be provided with the fee to take the Graduate Record Examination. It’s anticipated that 20-23 students will be served.

2015-2016 Awards

Strategic Initiative Grants

Beyond GLOBE

Submitted by: Yun Shi, Counseling Center

Co-sponsors: University Housing & Dining, and Residential Life

This program will unite current GLOBE members with Global Crossroads Living-Learning Community in an effort to increase domestic/international student engagement in a meaningful manner. Global Leaders: Orange and Blue Engagement program is a mutually beneficial program with the approach of students learning and helping students to learn about others from different backgrounds. It will be a structured program with 4-6 students in each cohort with the support of professional staff that will participate in various activities and events. This program will provide the opportunity for domestic and international students to network, develop leadership skills, global awareness, and cultural competency. Approximately 100-160 students will participate at each event throughout the academic year.

ICARE is an extension of the FYCARE for first year students, a sexual assault awareness program. ICARE focuses on bystander intervention and teaches students whom have participated in FYCARE to facilitate intervention programs. Pre- and post-testing of 231 participant’s documents that participants were more likely to engage in by-stander intervention. Specifically pre-test 78% of participants considered it likely or very likely that peers would intervene in sexually disrespectful situations compared to 91% post-test. Students own reported likelihood of intervening in sexually disrespectful situations increased from 81% pre- to 94% post-test. Participants’ confidence about intervening in sexually disrespectful situations increased from 76% pre- to 91% post-test. The project anticipates that ICARE facilitators will reach 1,000 students during the second year of the grant.

InterCultural Horizons

Submitted by: David Chih, Asian American Cultural Center/OIIR

Co-sponsors: University YMCA, International Student & Scholar Services, and OIIR International Education

InterCultural Horizons interns were trained in the previous year will work to expand the social media campaign #WeAreIllinois featured on Facebook and an art exhibit that explores the experiences of the interactions between international with domestic students. The interns will create other large-scale cultural immersions events. Additionally, the interns will meet weekly and discuss readings, engage with expert guest speakers, and participate in eight cross-cultural immersion experiences each semester. Interns will learn about globalization, international students in the U.S., Americans studying abroad, immigration experiences, and cultural exchanges. Five interns and one graduate assistant will participate in the program and they in turn develop large-scale events for campus throughout the year.

Interwoven: Domestic and International Student Service Immersion Trips

International and domestic students will be recruited to participate in civic engagement and collaborative learning. Students will have an opportunity to interact and grow culturally from each other. Students will learn how to organize their own service projects while participating in Interwoven. There will be two day trips and one three-day trip where the GLOBE approach of students learning and helping students to learn about others from different backgrounds will be used. The program is expected to serve over 100 students.

Verdell-Frazier Awards

Feminist Activist Academy (renewal), February 13, 2016

The academy is a skills-focused training for advocates and emerging female student leaders to enhance their awareness of feminist issues and to in turn put theories into practice in their organizing work. Students gained a safe space where feminist organizing is concretely discussed, network with other feminist activists and professionals working on behalf of women and gender justice, and develop their own perspectives on feminist action. This year two Feminist Activist Academy alumni will join the planning team, in the hope of building a stronger alumni network for the Feminist Activist Academy and the Women’s Resources Center. It’s anticipated that 35 students will participate.

An educational workshop on relationship abuse targeting undergraduate female students will be developed. This program will be based on a bystander intervention model. A literature search on best practices will be the basis of the workshop that will debut during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October 2015). The outcomes will be assessed in order to fine-tune the workshop for a wide launch during the 2016 Spring semester. It’s hoped this workshop will reach up to 260 female students.

2014-2015 Awards

Strategic Initiative Grants

International Student Early Arrival Experience

Submitted by: Lizette Dorantes & Brian Talton, University Housing

Co-sponsors: International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)

The goal of this program is to reduce international student’s sense of feeling lost or unwelcomed when they arrive on campus before the ISSS orientation. Pre-orientation students will be provided guided tours, explanation of staff roles and service, community connections & explorations, instructed how to access their student account, pay tuition, and class registration. During ISSS orientation week international students will be greeted at O’Hare, dropped off at locations with Welcome Wagons and on the Sunday before instruction begins the students will be shuttled to their permanent housing assignments, provided with a morning meal, a hall program in the afternoon, and an evening eat and greet. Additionally, there will be 6 weeks of integration programming in the Fall semester and a cultural immersion trip each semester. The program expects to reach 180 international students, 100 domestic students, 300 faculty, staff, and paraprofessionals.

"Fun" Career Fair

Campus Recreation in collaboration with the co-sponsors will host a “Fun” Career Fair. The fair will focus on students interested in internships and careers in recreation, sport, tourism, hospitality, and health fields. Besides developing career skills such as networking, resume building; the goal of this fair is to expose non-RST students to potential careers in RST. Particularly careers in financial operations, human resources, and marketing within this industry. The fair hopes to reach 200-400 students and 90 corporate partners.

Hire a Vet

Submitted by: Tracy Kleparski, Campus Recreation

Co-sponsors: Office of the Dean of Students and The Career Center

The program will consist of presentations provided over five weeks on career development topics during lunchtime. The focus will be how veteran students can highlight their military skills to meet the needs of private sector employers. The presentations will include resume writing; a panel of employers with veteran hiring initiatives; interview skills and career fair preparation; the All Campus Career Fair; and evaluating job offers. The program plans to reach 40-50 veteran students and five employers.

The FY CARE program is the foundation of the Tier II CARE Program which will focus on sexual assault bystander intervention. Students will learn to foster a community of respect and how to intervene to stop gendered violence. The Tier II curriculum will be developed with the help of all the co-sponsors and in consultation with nationally known bystander intervention consultant, Dr. Alan Berkowitz. The program will be facilitated by peers and the curriculum will focus on students; however, a second curriculum will be developed for professionals. The student curriculum will be completed in the Fall semester and piloted with 300 students during the Spring semester.

Activist Academy: Resisting Racism and Violence Against Women

The academy will be a year-long training program for student leaders focusing on "Resisting Racism and Violence Against Women." The collaborators will work with 35 students to become peer leaders, develop curriculum, workshops, film screenings, and discussion groups. These activities will expose the participants to definitions of violence against women; examples of racism and microaggressions; how to become an ally/advocate; coalition building; activisms; building grassroots campaigns; and how to seek support for a cause.

Inter-Connect Global Conversations

Submitted by: Rakhi Sen, Counseling Center

Co-sponsors: University Housing

The program will consist of 13 weekly "Conversation Hours" each semester located in one of the dining halls during dinner time. Multicultural Advocates and Counseling Center Paraprofessionals will serve as peer facilitators for the expected 600 international and domestic student participants. Six staff members will oversee all of the conversations. Attendance will be recorded and those students meeting a minimum number of conversations will be entered into a lottery for one of five prizes to be awarded each semester. The program will help participants gain a better understanding of cultural, social, and academic norms at the university. They will also learn about resources available to them and how to engage in cross cultural communication and dialogue. In addition, this program will meet an expressed need by international students for opportunities to practice English conversation skills.

Parent Program Brochures for Families whose First Language is not English

The Parent Program introductory brochures will be translated into Spanish and Mandarin. The brochures will be rewritten to address the concerns of families whose first language is not English and to provide information about university resources available through the Parent Programs Office. Current international students will be recruited to assist in the translation of these brochures and in the process may become aware of resources available to them. It is also possible that these brochures may become a recruitment tool. The brochures will be distributed electronically and in print by the co-sponsors.

2013-2014 Awards

Strategic Initiative Grants

International Night January 23, 2014

Submitted by: Juan Acevedo, Illini Union

Co-sponsors: International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)

International Night will feature International Student registered student organizations that will disseminate information about their organization and culture through a fair and entertainment event. The goal is two-fold, (1) to empower student organizations that represent international communities and diversity, and international students by allowing them to help plan the "International Fair," (2) to allow the U of I student population to learn about the diversity and uniqueness of the University of Illinois, and world at large through live performances and activities. The event strives to attract 600-700 attendees.

Intercultural Horizons Internship

Approximately 15 domestic and 15 International Students will commit to meet once a week for a year-long cultural competency class, group projects, presentations, and poster displays for the public. Students will participate in service learning projects in surrounding local, State, and in the second year, international communities. Students will explore their own identities and deepen ties to Urbana-Champaign, extend their influence to community organizations in Chicago, and better understand social justice issues.

Jazz Playformance

Submitted by: Ashley Davis, OIIR

Co-sponsors: Bruce Nesbitt African American Center & School of Music

The students will experience, discover and explore the creation of music and theatre. They will learn the history of jazz, develop composing/writing skills, performance technique, and stage comfort. Upon successful completion of the course, the students will understand the collaborative process of the musicality of jazz-text composition and performance. In addition, the students will learn how to navigate musical composition software.

Multi-Racial & Multi-Ethnic Students Initiative

The initiative will consist of five prominent speakers, an ice cream social, and monthly roundtable discussions. The speakers are experts in their fields and have conducted extensive research, published and/or presented on topics related to multi-racial or multi-ethnic students in higher education. The speakers will be Gian Carlos Esposito, Actor; Louie Gong, President of MAVIN Foundation, Mixed Heritage Center; Laura Kina, faculty member in American Studies, Global Asian Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies at DePaul University; Becky Martinez, Social Justice Training Institute faculty member; and Ken Tanabe, Adjunct faculty at Parsons the New School for Design.

MENgageMENT

MENgageMENT is an African American and Latino male student retention program. Students participate in peer-mentoring, mentoring of local high school students and faculty/staff mentoring. All MENgageMENT participants are required to identify a mentor and mentee and build an ongoing relationship with these individuals. Participants will attend workshops, a retreat, and will be recognized through the “Ebony Excellence Awards.” The program uses a “train the trainer” model to ensure ongoing development and leadership opportunities. Participants from the first two cohorts have improved their grade point average and academic behaviors (e.g., meet with faculty more often, turn in assignments on time, study more, etc.).

Latina/o Resilience: A META Component on Mental Health Wellness and Awareness for the Retention and Success of Latina/o Students

This is a new component to the META Latino/a retention program which will focus on mental health. In conjunction with this component a one credit Latina/o Special Topics (390) class will be coordinated. Mental health wellness and awareness within a collective cultural context as an integral component to retention and graduation will be addressed. This component will include workshops and trainings by the Counseling Center to train students to be outreach representatives. Additional workshops include encountering past trauma through narrative performance; a performance and debriefing. Other activities will include informational workshops for registered student organizations and Greek organizations affiliated with La Casa; development of a one hour course that will train students as META facilitators; and development of an assessment instrument to track individual interventions for La Casa.

Strategies for Enhancing the Outreach and Transition of Student Veterans

This project includes a monthly speaker program that brings together representatives from student affairs units and veteran students. Veteran students will learn how specific units can help them to be successful at UIUC and participating units will learn from veterans what their specific needs are. Participating student affairs units will craft veteran-specific informational materials. Additionally, unit representatives will learn how to become a veteran “ally” and a point of contact for incoming student veterans.

Verdell-Frazier Awards

Campus Body Image Initiative

The Campus Body Image Initiative is a collaborative effort to engage students in on-going dialogue and consciousness-raising about the cultural issues that result in pervasive body image struggles among women. The initiative consists of two six week body image action discussion and support groups (one per semester) and national guest speakers. Ragen Chastain of Dances with Fat and Sonya Renee Taylor, a poet, activist and transformational leader will be the guest speakers. Paraprofessionals from the McKinley Health Center will assist with promotion, attend events, and participate in the discussion/support group series.

SisterHood Project

The SisterHood Project will consist of roundtables, presentations, and other sharing sessions that address the media portrayal of African American women and its effect on African American female students on campus. Students will engage in critical perspective taking, self-reflections, discussions, presentations, and assignments. The project hopes that by empowering African American female students with knowledge it will increase their self-esteem and they will be enabled to deal with any negative images they may face.

2012-2013 Awards

Strategic Initiative Grants

Campus Body Image Initiative

This is a multi-faceted program that focuses on promoting a healthy positive body image among female students. The initiative includes four components:

a summer book club that will read Fat: The Story of My Life with My Body by Jean Braithwaite;

Body Image Action Coalition a weekly discussion group;

a lecture by Jean Braithwaite;

and a full day "Soul Hunger" workshop and evening presentation entitled, Deciphering the Hunger Code: Understanding Food and Body Image Struggles Through Metaphor and Storytelling led by Dr. Anita Johnston.

MENgageMENT: Men Engaged in Mentoring

This program grooms male students of color to be mentors through a year-long series of workshops, excursions, and film screenings. Participants will learn to be youth and/or peer mentors. The skills developed through this program will benefit student and community organizations as well as the participants’ own personal development.

Multi-racial/Multi-ethnic Students Initiative

This initiative includes four respected speakers, the Hapa Project (a multiracial identity project art exhibit), and monthly roundtable discussions pertaining to the concerns of multiracial/multi-ethnic students in higher education. The speakers are: Marc Johnston, doctoral candidate, Higher Education & Organization Change from UCLA, Louie Gong, President of MAVIN Foundation Mixed Heritage Center, Laura Kina, faculty member from DePaul University, and Kip Fullbeck, faculty member from University of California at Santa Barbara.

Social Networking for Collective Engagement: A Meta Component for the Retention of Latina/o Students

This is a component of the META project at La Casa Cultural Latina. This program consists of biweekly workshops and long-term assignments in collaboration with the Illinois Leadership Center and the Department of Latina/o Studies. These workshops will provide information on campus resources and opportunities; develop emotional intelligence and goal-setting strategies; implement Social Belonging Interventions; distance mentoring from alumni; and social networking within and beyond the university.

2011-2012 Awards

Strategic Initiative Grants

The Great Asian American Programming Series

A year-long series of workshops and programs that address the specific mental health needs of the Asian American and Asian International residents living at Urbana South. In addition, the program will promote a positive Urbana South identity. A monthly talk series will provide a supportive and easily accessible atmosphere where residents can talk about events relevant to Urbana South and the broader Asian community.

Hybrid Strategies: Retention and Belonging for Latina/o sophomores

A retention program targeting low-income and first generation students. In collaboration with the Office of Minority Student Affairs (OMSA) La Casa will bring outside guest speakers on belonging interventions, conduct weekly workshops, group activities and provide a venue for monthly individual advising by graduate counselors from OMSA and advisors from the Division of General Studies. Alumni mentoring will also be a component.

Inter-Connect

A program targeting international student transition to U.S. culture. The program will provide a series of dinner workshops addressing the social, emotional, and academic adjustment of international students.

Collaborators: University Housing, Asian American Cultural Center, International Student and Scholar Services, and Illinois Leadership Center

Total Population: students

Strategic Initiative Addressed: Illinois Experience

MENgageMENT

A program designed to groom male-identified undergraduate and graduate students of color to be mentors. Year-long monthly workshops, excursions, and film screenings will teach the participants how to be effective mentors to their peers and other youths.

Operation Outreach & Connect for Women Veterans

The Women’s Resources Center in collaboration with Veteran Student Support Services will stimulate community building through weekly informal coffee hours and occasional skills/knowledge-building sessions. These sessions will be monthly and focus on issues related to life transitions, health, well-being, career and post-graduation employment, and family.

Out Where You Are

A series of programs designed to enhance the recruitment and retention of LGBT students at the University of Illinois. In addition, the programs will contribute to a more positive climate for LGBT individuals on campus. The four main topics are: out as an ally, out in the halls, out at work, and out on campus.

Collaborators: LGBT Resource Center; the Career Center; University Housing; East Central Illinois Safe Schools Alliance; and UP Center of Champaign County

Total Population: students; staff/faculty; alumnus; and community members

Women of Worth Leadership and Career Seminar Series

A three-part series for female students to be completed over a six week period during the Fall semester. Bi-weekly seminars over six weeks will be conducted focusing on exploring the talents and strengths of female students, changing roles and expectation for women in the workplace, and alumni networking.

Services Creating a Safer Campus

A nationwide prevention and intervention campaign from NASPA that will build community, promoting inclusiveness, and inter-connectivity.

Submitted by: University Housing and NUF Fellows in collaboration with the Office of Inclusion and InterculturalRelations

Empowering the Sophomore Experience

A retention program focusing on Latino/a Sophomores.

Submitted by: Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations in collaboration with Office of Minority Student Affairs and The Career Center

Inter-Connect

A program that will provide knowledge and skills that will assist international students in their transition to the culture of the United States.

Submitted by: Counseling Center in collaboration with Asian American Cultural Center and International Student and Scholar Services

I-WIN Programs

I-WIN is a film project that will document the obstacles women face as students in math, science and engineering disciplines.

Submitted by: Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations in collaboration with WIMSE Living-Learning Community, Gender and Women’s Studies, Women in Engineering and Women in Chemistry. Awarded funds from the Verdell-Frazier-Young fund for the improvement of the education of undergraduate women.

Launch Into Leadership

Launch into Leadership is a retreat that will provide leadership skills for first year students living in the residence halls.

Submitted by: University Housing in collaboration with the Illinois Leadership Center, and Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations

Leadership and Career Seminar Series

A seminar series that will educate female undergraduates about career and leadership related skills.

Submitted by: Women’s Resources Center in collaboration with Illinois Leadership Center and The Career Center. Awarded funds from the Verdell-Frazier-Young fund for the improvement of the education of undergraduate women.

Native American Family Visit Day

NAFVD will provide an orientation for Native American students and their families and will provide an opportunity for families to visit campus.

Submitted by: he Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations and in collaboration with the Office of Admissions, Office of Minority Student Affairs, University Housing and Campus Recreation

Veteran Bowling League

The bowling league will serve as a social network support program that will help veterans adapt to campus life with the help of Counseling Center staff.

Submitted by: Illini Union in collaboration with the Counseling Center